Abstract
As a member of staff at the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology, I have seen it emerge over the last decade as a critical site for anthropological film-making. The primary focus of the Centre's operations is its Masters course that offers training in documentary film-making techniques to anthropology graduates. There is, however, considerable confusion among both anthropologists and film-makers about the status of anthropological documentary. This essay explores what is distinctive about anthropological film-making practice. I will argue that it is no longer about the exotic or about the documentation of disappearing worlds; it also makes no claims for science and objectivity. Instead it is distinguished by a unique sensibility rooted in experiential knowledge. The cultivation of an anthropological way of seeing also offers an unusual perspective on other visual forms. I believe that the Granada Centre has much to gain from developing collaborations with those working in adjacent sites.
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